--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem for me is not that…" description: "\"The problem for me is not that Schwarzenegger is governor, but the extent to which even politicians who are not actors are functioning like actors.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/slavoj-i-ek-1738_actors_the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzen_570383.png" --- # The problem for me is not that Schwarzenegger is governor… ![“The problem for me is not that Schwarzenegger is governor, but the extent to which even politicians who are not actors are functioning like actors.” quote by Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/slavoj-i-ek-1738_actors_the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzen_570383.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/slavoj-i-ek-1738_actors_the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzen_570383.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/slavoj-i-ek-1738_actors_the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzen_570383.png) > “The problem for me is not that Schwarzenegger is governor, but the extent to which even politicians who are not actors are functioning like actors.” [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians increasingly adopt theatrical behavior, blurring lines between governance and performance. **In simple terms:** Politicians act like actors. Key Takeaway Recognize performance in politics. Themes politics performance media leadership Mood critical analytical Type political commentary philosophical When to use this quote - elections - press conferences - campaign rallies Key Concepts theatre authenticity public perception Questions to Reflect On - How does performance affect public trust? - Can authenticity be restored? A Different Perspective Actors may lack genuine policy expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Governors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governors/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [Arnold Schwarzenegger is now governor of California. He is a very shrewd man - he already has all of his sex scandals behind him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-now-governor-of-california-he-is-a-very/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [This is called "spiritual lifting." It's not heavy lifting. The governor of Texas should not be confused with Arnold Schwarzenegger. That's a powerful position.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/this-is-called-spiritual-lifting-it-s-not-heavy-lifting-the-governor/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) > [Today Arnold Schwarzenegger made another major announcement. He said his lieutenant governor will be Xena, Warrior Princess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/today-arnold-schwarzenegger-made-another-major-announcement-he-said/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [In my opinion, Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't qualified to be governor of California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/in-my-opinion-arnold-schwarzenegger-wasn-t-qualified-to-be-governor/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [“Jim Reston: Walking through the crowds of air-kissing politicians, actors and high fliers, it was tough to tell where the politics stopped and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/jim-reston-walking-through-the-crowds-of-air-kissing-politicians/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [Some people bare their entire life on the Internet. There are politicians and actors, who like that. But there are some who don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshaye-khanna/some-people-bare-their-entire-life-on-the-internet-there-are/) [Akshaye Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshaye-khanna/) > [Politicians are actors, too, don't you think? Usually, if you like people and you're outgoing, not a shy little thing, you can do pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/politicians-are-actors-too-don-t-you-think-usually-if-you-like-people/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [As is the case with politicians, actors are chosen by people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-kapoor/as-is-the-case-with-politicians-actors-are-chosen-by-people/) [Rishi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-kapoor/) > [The people I look up to the most - politicians, actors, artists - are the people who manage to do a high-powered job while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/the-people-i-look-up-to-the-most-politicians-actors-artists-are-the/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [Ultimately, the Indian public is not fool. They can spot the difference between what is said for effect and what is done in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-bose/ultimately-the-indian-public-is-not-fool-they-can-spot-the-difference/) [Rahul Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-bose/) > [I'd like to talk to Arnold Schwarzenegger, 'cause I live in California and I just want to see that canned, chemical filled body in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-d-like-to-talk-to-arnold-schwarzenegger-cause-i-live-in-california/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I recently read that Arnold Schwarzenegger collects Hummers. Now we know why Maria's face is frozen in that puckered position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-wilkerson/i-recently-read-that-arnold-schwarzenegger-collects-hummers-now-we/) [Brad Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-wilkerson/) > [How would Elvira run the state of California? Well, there isn't much I could do that is worse than what Arnold Schwarzenegger has done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/how-would-elvira-run-the-state-of-california-well-there-isn-t-much-i/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like a brown condom full of walnuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/arnold-schwarzenegger-looks-like-a-brown-condom-full-of-walnuts/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Call me the rap assassinator / rhymes rugged and built like Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/call-me-the-rap-assassinator-rhymes-rugged-and-built-like/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) ## More by Slavoj Žižek > [The ultimate goal of radical politics is gradually to displace the limit of social exclusions, empowering the excluded agents (sexual and ethnic minorities) by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-ultimate-goal-of-radical-politics-is-gradually-to-displace-the/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“In Kant’s description, ethical duty functions like a foreign traumatic intruder that from the outside disturbs the subject’s homeostatic balance, its unbearable pressure forcing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/in-kant-s-description-ethical-duty-functions-like-a-foreign-traumatic/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [I think Kafka was right when he said that for a modern, secular, nonreligious man, state bureaucracy is the only remaining contact with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/i-think-kafka-was-right-when-he-said-that-for-a-modern-secular/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“The cliche about prison life is that I am actually integrated into it, ruined by it, when my accommodation to it is so overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-cliche-about-prison-life-is-that-i-am-actually-integrated-into-it/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“In our quest for entertainment and instant gratification, we have become detached from the real world and its problems, contributing to the erosion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/in-our-quest-for-entertainment-and-instant-gratification-we-have/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [The problem for us is not are our desires satisfied or not. The problem is how do we know what we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-problem-for-us-is-not-are-our-desires-satisfied-or-not-the/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“Ultimately,we hear things because we cannot see everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/ultimately-we-hear-things-because-we-cannot-see-everything/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“In contrast to the situation in 1945, the world does not need the US; it is the US that needs the rest of the world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/in-contrast-to-the-situation-in-1945-the-world-does-not-need-the-us/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [Humanity is OK, but 99% of people are boring idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/humanity-is-ok-but-99-of-people-are-boring-idiots/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [We need useless theory more than ever today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/we-need-useless-theory-more-than-ever-today/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [Those who were still able to write beautiful melodies were kitsch composers like Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky approaches true art not in his numerous beautiful melodies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/those-who-were-still-able-to-write-beautiful-melodies-were-kitsch/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“as in Heinrich Heine’s (a contemporary of Kierkegaard’s) well-known saying that one should value above everything else ‘freedom, equality and crab soup’. ‘Crab soup’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/as-in-heinrich-heine-s-a-contemporary-of-kierkegaard-s-well-known/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“The “pursuit of happiness” is such a key element of the “American (ideological) dream” that one tends to forget the contingent origin of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-pursuit-of-happiness-is-such-a-key-element-of-the-american/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [A spectre is haunting Western academia (...), the spectre of the Cartesian subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/a-spectre-is-haunting-western-academia-the-spectre-of-the-cartesian/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“...A friend has to be outside my reach, beyond my grasp. And there can be no friendship with someone whom I am not ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/a-friend-has-to-be-outside-my-reach-beyond-my-grasp-and-there-can-be/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) [Explore all 206 Slavoj Žižek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. 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We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem for me is not that Schwarzenegger is governor, but the extent to which even politicians who are not actors are functioning like actors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Slavoj Žižek" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzenegger-is-governor-but-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzenegger-is-governor-but-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/slavoj-i-ek-1738_actors_the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzen_570383.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/slavoj-i-ek-1738_actors_the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzen_570383.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/slavoj-i-ek-1738_actors_the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzen_570383.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem for me is not that Schwarzenegger is governor, but the extent to which even politicians who are…” — Slavoj Žižek", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Slavoj Žižek", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The problem for me is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzenegger-is-governor-but-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-problem-for-me-is-not-that-schwarzenegger-is-governor-but-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```